Mithali 31
1 Maneno ya mfalme Lemueli - mausia aliyofundishwa na mama yake.
THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
2 Mwanangu nini? Na ni nini mwana wa tumbo langu? Na ni nini mwana wa nadhiri zangu?
What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
3 Nguvu zako usiwape wanawake; au wenye kuharibu wafalme njia zako.
Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.
4 Lemueli, kunywa divai, siyo kwa ajili ya wafalme, wala kwa watawala kuuliza, “kileo kikali kiko wapi?”
It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
5 Kwa sababu kama watakunywa, watasahau sheria ni nini, na kupotosha haki za wote walioonewa.
Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
6 Wape kileo kikali watu wanaopotea na mvinyo kwa wale wenye kutaabika kwa uchungu.
Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.
7 Atakunywa na kusahau umasikini wake na hataikumbuka taabu yake.
Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
8 Ongea kwa ajili yao wasioweza kuongea, kwa madai ya wote wanaopotea.
Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
9 Ongea na uhukumu kwa vipimo vya haki na utetee dai la masikini na watu wahitaji.
Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
10 Mke hodari ni nani anaweza kumpata? Thamani yake ni zaidi kuliko vito.
Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
11 Moyo wa mume wake humwamini, na hatakuwa masikini.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
12 Humtendea mambo mema na wala si mabaya siku zote za maisha yake.
She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
13 Huchagua sufu na kitani, na hufanya kazi yake ya mikono kwa furaha.
She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
14 Yupo kama meli za wafanyabiashara; huleta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
15 Huamka wakati wa usiku na kuwapa chakula watu wa kaya yake, na kugawa kazi kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.
16 Hulifikiria shamba na kulinunua, kwa tunda la mikono yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
17 Yeye mwenyewe hujivika nguvu na kuimarisha mikono yake.
She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
18 Huangalia ni kipi kitaleta faida nzuri kwake; usiku wote taa yake haizimishwi.
She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
19 Mikono yake huiweka kwenye mpini wa kisokotea nyuzi na hushikilia kisokotea nyuzi.
She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
20 Mkono wake huwafikia watu masikini; mikono yake huwafikia watu wahitaji.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
21 Haogopi theluji kwa ajili ya kaya yake, kwa maana nyumba yake yote imevika kwa nguo nyekundu.
She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
22 Hutengeneza matandiko ya kitanda chake, na huvaa nguo za kitani ya dhambarau safi.
She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Mume wake anajulikana malangoni, anapoketi na wazee wa nchi.
Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
24 Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, na naleta mishipi kwa wafanyabiashara.
She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
25 Amevaa nguvu na heshima, na wakati ujao huucheka.
Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
26 Anafumbua kinywa chake kwa hekima na sheria ya ukarimu ipo kwenye ulimi wake.
She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
27 Huangalia njia za nyumba yake na hawezi kula mkate wa uvivu.
She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
28 Watoto wake huinuka na kumwita heri na mume wake humsifia, akisema,
Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
29 “Wanawake wengi wamefanya vizuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.
30 Madaha ni udanganyifu, uzuri ni ubatili; bali mwanamke amchaye Yehova, atasifiwa.
Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
31 Mpeni tunda la mikono yake na kazi zake zimsifu katika malango.
Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.
